If anything I bet Kobayashi is going to do very well in Japan and his name will be tossed into the ring too.

But for Kobayashi 'very well' would probably equate to 3rd - Ferrari are going to hire a driver who finished 3rd in a Sauber, but a driver who took the same car to 2nd (and nearly took the win) isn't ready? Massa will be in a Ferrari next year, and then they'll hire someone else to be Alonso's Barrichello.

Massa will be in a Ferrari next year, and then they'll hire someone else to be Alonso's Barrichello.

I don't know how you can say that with great certainty. If Ferrari really wanted Massa for 2013 and beyond, surely he would be signed up by now. Plus, there's no logic in waiting a year only to replace Massa with another #2 in 2014 as you suggest. The only Ferrari I imagine Massa will be in next year will be on a Le Mans grid or something.

I don't know how you can say that with great certainty. If Ferrari really wanted Massa for 2013 and beyond, surely he would be signed up by now. Plus, there's no logic in waiting a year only to replace Massa with another #2 in 2014 as you suggest. The only Ferrari I imagine Massa will be in next year will be on a Le Mans grid or something.

Ferrari don't have to rush any contract with Massa, it's not like he has anywhere else to go.

I don't know how you can say that with great certainty. If Ferrari really wanted Massa for 2013 and beyond, surely he would be signed up by now. Plus, there's no logic in waiting a year only to replace Massa with another #2 in 2014 as you suggest. The only Ferrari I imagine Massa will be in next year will be on a Le Mans grid or something.

Who are Ferrari's other options? They waited too long to make an offer to Webber, and he's signed for another season at Red Bull. Hulkenberg and di Resta are not serious suggestions, and aren't as good as Perez who they had an option on. Raikkonen doesn't want to leave a comfortable situation at Lotus to join a team that forced him out in, where he'd likely have to do commercial work, and would be told his job was to support Alonso for the world championship. Schumacher's retired. The only reasonable option would, I suppose, be Kovalainen, but he was hardly stellar when he had race-winning machinery under him, and he's not exactly been doing anything noteworthy at Caterham. It's not that Ferrari particularly want Massa, it's that they're stuck with him.

I wouldn't say Hulkenberg and Di Resta aren't better or as good as Perez. Di Resta beat Perez in 2011. Perez has just taken advantage of some really strange tyres and a very good Sauber car, but then he's had those days where he is nowhere to be seen. I think some people are hyping Perez abit much. It'll be interesting to see how he really does in the McLaren, as he never really shone out to me previously as someone with raw pace.

I don't think Hulkenberg, Di Resta or Perez are quite in the level as Hamilton, Vettel etc.. but really the only way to find out is to give them top machinery. I think Perez got really lucky with the car and tyres this year, they just worked really well for him. Pirelli aren't changing the tyres next year, so that'll play to his hands too. I do think if Pirelli decide to make some proper tyres for 2014 without the need for all the gimmicks, Perez will be hurt badly though.

I can only imagine that his sponsor deal isn't really worth 30+ million pounds for 2013 otherwise I cannot really see Wiliams dropping him despite him not performing that well a few times this year.

His sponsorship deal is actually worth about 30 million pounds per year, but the problem is that it's not certain if the deal will be continued. There is an election in Venezuela and nobody can really predict how this will affect the PDVSA deal.

His sponsorship deal is actually worth about 30 million pounds per year, but the problem is that it's not certain if the deal will be continued. There is an election in Venezuela and nobody can really predict how this will affect the PDVSA deal.

That is unbeliveable sum of money that anyone would pay just to drive in F1

His sponsorship deal is actually worth about 30 million pounds per year, but the problem is that it's not certain if the deal will be continued. There is an election in Venezuela and nobody can really predict how this will affect the PDVSA deal.

No kidding, election in socialist dictatorship and nobody can predict the outcome.... Right akin to Cuba I think

Indeed. I like Felipe, and he's a tidy enough driver, but he's just not good enough for a seat these days, unless he's bringing a shedload of money with him. He's simply no better than the few talented young guys that ARE bringing money, so.........

That is unbeliveable sum of money that anyone would pay just to drive in F1

PDVSA needed to make a very good offer to make Pastor into F1. I've read that the deal was offered to many teams, but most of them were refusing, being affraid that bad PR which would be brought by being supported by the company highly connected with unpopular Hugo Chavez, would discourage other sponsors and investors to invest in such team. Williams were a bit desperate for money at the end of the 2010, due to most of their major sponsors being left, but they wouldn't have taken such a big risk if the deal weren't about really big money.

+ You can see how much exposure they get at Williams. They even bring a bit of red color to the them, not to mention they got more presence on the car than any of their sponsors in recent years.

There were so many leaks about PDVSA deal in the Internet and all of them were saying about the same amount of money, that I'm pretty sure it's true. Considering the circumstances, the deal has to be very big.

If (and it's a big if) Maldonado and his PDVSA sponsorship are leaving Williams, then could that be a sign that Williams have finally managed to pull off that Qatari sponsorship deal that's been floating around for a while? Presumably such a deal would replace PDVSA's money while not putting any requirements on their driver line-up, and also being politically more secure. In which case - Alguersuari and Bottas? Kobayashi and Bottas? Di Resta and Bottas? Pic and Bottas?

But I wouldn't be too surprised if next year's line-up was Maldonado and Bottas.

If (and it's a big if) Maldonado and his PDVSA sponsorship are leaving Williams, then could that be a sign that Williams have finally managed to pull off that Qatari sponsorship deal that's been floating around for a while? Presumably such a deal would replace PDVSA's money while not putting any requirements on their driver line-up, and also being politically more secure. In which case - Alguersuari and Bottas? Kobayashi and Bottas? Di Resta and Bottas? Pic and Bottas?

But I wouldn't be too surprised if next year's line-up was Maldonado and Bottas.

Frank has made it clear on several occassions that Pastor will not be allowed to leave. Besides he has no better options. Ferrari will not take him.

Would that bring Hulkenberg to Ferrari? He is young enough to try and one-shot the Ferrari to get a better deal elsewhere when/if the Vettel thing comes through.

FI: DiResta/Alguersari.
Sauber: a plethora of drivers. Guiterrez seems obious due to Telmex. If Frijns wins WSR, perhaps he will get a chance instead of Kobayashi. It is in line with the Sauber philosophy.
Williams: Bottas and Maldo (election rigging is second nature in those socialist states).
I can't see a future for Senna in the midfield teams.

Caterham: Kovalainen is a big question mark. Much conflicting news around. Second driver could be VdGarde, only due to cash. Petrov has seem to run out of it.
Marrussia: ??
HRT: ??

I'm not sure both Torro Rosso drivers are save, they always have a Marko-gloom on them. If Da Costa does well in WRS the last race I can see them ditching one of the TR drivers.

Alonso is following a lot of drivers, including Hulk, maybe Hulk noticed today and decided to follow him too ;). The Alguersuari thing it's strange because he doesn't follow any driver or team but F-I.